Test Catalog

Test Id : ACT

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Actinomyces Culture, Varies

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Diagnosing anaerobic Actinomyces involved in infections

Reflex Tests
Lists tests that may or may not be performed, at an additional charge, depending on the result and interpretation of the initial tests.

Test Id Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
ISAN Anaerobe Ident by Sequencing No, (Bill Only) No
TISSR Tissue Processing No, (Bill Only) No
RMALA Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe No, (Bill Only) No

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

When this test is ordered, the reflex tests may be performed at an additional charge.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Conventional Culture Techniques

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Actinomyces Culture

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Actinomyces

50011-ACT

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

When this test is ordered, the reflex tests may be performed at an additional charge.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Varies

Shipping Instructions

Specimen should arrive within 72 hours of collection.

Necessary Information

Specimen source is required.

ORDER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question ID Description Answers
Q00M0002 Specimen Source

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Specimen Type: Abscesses, intrauterine devices, percutaneous transtracheal aspirates, sterile body fluids, suprapubic aspirations, wounds

Supplies: Anaerobe Transport Tube (T588)

Container/Tube: Anaerobe transport tube

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens should be collected by needle and syringe aspiration or surgical drainage.

2. Send ambient.

 

Specimen Type: Spinal fluid

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: Entire contents of vial number 2 (minimum volume 0.5 mL)

Collection Instructions: Always send vial number 2, if possible. If not, note which vial was sent. If single vial specimen for multiple laboratories, note “single vial specimen” on card accompanying specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

See Specimen Required

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Swab Reject

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Varies Ambient 72 hours

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Diagnosing anaerobic Actinomyces involved in infections

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

When this test is ordered, the reflex tests may be performed at an additional charge.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Anaerobic Actinomyces are nonsporeforming, thin branching, gram-positive bacilli that are part of the normal microbiota of the human oral cavity and may also colonize the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. Their presence is important in preserving the usual bacterial populations of the mouth and in preventing infection with disease-causing bacteria.

 

Actinomyces are generally of low pathogenicity but may be an important factor in the development of periodontal disease and may cause soft tissue infections in colonized areas of the body following trauma (surgical or otherwise). The typical lesion consists of an outer zone of granulation around central purulent loculations containing masses of tangled organisms ("sulfur granule"). Chronic burrowing sinus tracts develop. Typical actinomycotic infections occur around the head and neck, in the lung and chest wall, and in the peritoneal cavity and abdominal wall. Actinomycosis of the female genital tract occurs in association with the use of intrauterine contraceptive devices. Purulent collections containing "sulfur granules" may drain from some sinus tracts opening to the skin.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

No growth

Identification of probable pathogens

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Isolation of anaerobic Actinomyces in significant numbers from well-collected specimens, including blood, other normally sterile body fluids, or closed collections of purulent fluid, indicates infection with the identified organism.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Specimens should be collected by needle and syringe aspiration or surgical drainage to avoid contamination with normal microbiota Actinomyces, especially in and around the oral cavity; such contamination would make interpretation of culture results impossible.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Summanen P, Baron EJ, Citron DM, et al. Wadsworth Anaerobic Bacteriology Manual. 6th ed. Star Publishing Co; 2002

2. Butler-Wu SM, She RC. Actinomyces, Lactobacillus, Cutibacterium, and other non-spore-forming anaerobic gram-positive rods. In: Carroll KC, Pfaller MA, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 12th ed. ASM Press; 2019:938-967

3. Hall GS. Anaerobic gram-positive bacilli. In: Leber AL, ed. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. 4th ed. Vol 1. ASM Press; 2016

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Appropriate specimens are inoculated onto blood agar and into thioglycollate broth, which are then incubated under anaerobic conditions. Cultures are examined after 48 hours of incubation and thereafter (maximum of 14 days) for the presence of organisms that have characteristic colonial and Gram stain morphologies. Definitive identification is made using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry or 16S rRNA sequencing.(Procop GW, Church DL, Hall GS, et al. The anaerobic bacteria. In: Koneman's Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology. 7th ed. Wolters Kluwer Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2017:984-1073)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Sunday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

14 to 20 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

7 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

87075-Actinomyces culture

62258-Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe (if appropriate)

87153-Anaerobe identification by sequencing (if appropriate)

87176-Tissue processing (if appropriate)

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
ACT Actinomyces Culture 9816-0
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
ACT Actinomyces Culture 9816-0

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports